I-75 southbound reopened after closure due to accident

The southbound lanes of Interstate 75 in southern Alachua County and northern Marion County were reopened at about 9:45 a.m. Thursday after being closed for several hours.

By Austin L. MillerStaff writer

MICANOPY – A traffic crash on Interstate 75 early Thursday closed the southbound lanes for hours, injured one person and caused an estimated $35,000 worth of damage to two trucks.

The accident was reported at 3:05 a.m. near Mile Marker 371.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers said a 2000 semi truck, driven by 43-year-old Ernesto Gonzalez Conde of Moultrie, Ga., was in the outside emergency lane on and began moving into the travel lane. The semi went into the path of a 2012 Freightliner driven by Timothy D. Barnes, 38, of Olando. The front of the Freightliner struck the rear of the semi.

Barnes had to be extracted from the Freightliner by Marion County Fire Rescue officials. He was taken to West Marion Community Hospital in Ocala in serious condition. According to troopers, the Freightliner sustained $25,000 in damages.